Jason Trundle has been jailed for murder (Image: BPM Media)
A disabled man was found dead after being brutally murdered by his carer. Jason Trundle, 52, has been jailed for 19 years after killing Leon Pratt and leaving his body to rot for 12 days.
Emergency services rushed to a property in Telford, Shropshire, on October 26, 2024 after neighbours reported not seeing the disabled 64-year-old for weeks. Paramedics arrived at the scene to find Mr Pratt wrapped in a duvet and decomposing on his bed.
West Mercia Police have released bodycam footage which shows the medics arriving at the home. One asked his colleague: “Can you smell that?” The paramedics entered the home to find Trundle who pointed at a closed bedroom door.
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The 52-year-old said: “In there. He’s been dead about 12 days.” After being asked how he had found him, Trundle replied: “I’m not going to comment on that.” He then added: “I didn’t kill him. He just died.”
The paramedics then asked him if he had told anyone about the death. Trundle replied “nope” before adding: “Nobody knows I’m here, I don’t have any money, I’ve gotta look after that dog. So where am I gonna go and what am I gonna do?”
Police officers quickly arrived and arrested Trundle but he still refused to answer any questions. A post mortem revealed that Mr Pratt had suffered significant injuries to his neck, back and ribs, consistent with strangulation.
Trundle was soon charged with his murder but denied the allegations. He admitted manslaughter and stood trial at Stafford Crown Court, where the jury heard Mr Pratt’s injuries would have required “considerable force” to inflict.
Trundle told paramedics Mr Pratt had been dead for 12 days (Image: PA)
Trundle admitted preventing a lawful burial as well as fraud by false representation. The court heard how he used Mr Pratt’s bank card in a local shop while he was dead at home.
He was convicted of murder by jurors and jailed for life, with a minimum term of 19 years, at Worcester Crown Court on Friday (April 10).
Detective Inspector Joanne Delahay, of West Mercia Police, said: “Trundle’s act of violence and the weeks of deceit that followed, which denied Leon and his family the opportunity to lay him to rest respectfully, is deplorable.
“Leon clearly trusted Jason with his life, and he took that away from him. We welcome the decision made by the jury and thankful Leon’s family only had to wait another day for Trundle to be sentenced. I hope it brings some closure to Leon’s family and those that knew him.”
Mr Pratt was disabled in a wheelchair with several health conditions (Image: PA)
Pair met on social media a year and a half before the murder
The court heard how Trundle and Mr Pratt met on social media about a year and a half before the murder. Trundle had nowhere to live at the time so moved in to Mr Pratt’s home on the promise he would provide day-to-day care.
Mr Pratt was disabled in a wheelchair with several health conditions. Richard Barraclough KC, prosecuting, described Trundle as his “unofficial carer”.
Their neighbours in Downemeade called 999 after growing concerned they had not seen Mr Pratt in weeks. Emergency services arrived at the scene at around 7.30pm before Trundle was arrested an hour later.
Mr Barraclough said paramedics “could smell something putrid like rotting flesh coming from the property”. They were shown the body by Trundle prior to his arrest.